The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This French Bread Pizza recipe is excellent for pizza nights or weekends. It’s one of the easiest ways to make pizza. Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes!
Plus, it costs about $10.79 to feed six people. That works out to approximately $1.79 per serving!
French Bread Pizza
Friday night, pizza night! Is that a thing for anyone else? It is for us. Pizza is such an excellent option for families with picky eaters. We have our share of those in our homes (insert smack my head emoji), so this French bread pizza recipe is one of our favorites.
You can put out a variety of toppings and let everyone put what they want on their pizza. DIY French Bread Pizza…Super easy!
Pizza every single week made the same way can get old, though. It’s fun to add some variety to classic recipes. Enter this homemade French bread pizza. It is the perfect solution. The crusty outer layer of the French bread is delicious and a nice change from traditional pizza dough.
You can pick up a loaf of French bread for around $1.00 at Walmart and use some leftover items in your fridge from the prior week, such as green peppers, pineapple, ham, feta, shredded chicken, and spinach. Look at that, an easy meal for pennies that is tastier and better for you than the frozen kind!
Why This Is The Best French Bread Pizza
- Bread: Soft French bread is the perfect vessel for the pizza and toppings.
- Seasonings: Adding herbs and seasonings like oregano and garlic powder to the butter brushed onto the bread enhances the overall flavor profile of the pizza.
- Personalization: One of the advantages of this recipe is its versatility. You can personalize the recipe by adding your favorite ingredients, such as olives, mushrooms, bell peppers, or onions, to make it unique and appealing to your taste.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- 1 ½ large loaves French bread, cut in half lengthwise – $1.97
- 8 Tablespoons salted butter, cut into 16 pieces – $1.12
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder – $0.08
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano – $0.05
- 14 oz jar pizza sauce – $2.62
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni – $2.45
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese – $2.50
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in June 2023.
How To Make French Bread Pizza
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- First, melt the butter and add garlic powder and parsley.
- Next, slice the French bread lengthwise and brush the garlic butter mixture onto the bread.
- Then place it in the oven for 6 minutes. Top your French bread with your desired toppings.
- Bake it for another 10 minutes.
- Let it cool for about 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
French Bread Pizza Recipe Variations
- Veggie Delight: Load your French Bread Pizza with colorful vegetables like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes. You can sauté the veggies before adding them to the pizza for added flavor.
- Margherita Style: Keep it simple with classic Margherita toppings. Use fresh basil leaves, sliced tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Drizzle some olive oil and sprinkle salt and pepper for a fresh and light flavor.
- BBQ Chicken: Instead of using marinara sauce, brush the French bread with barbecue sauce. Top it with cooked and shredded chicken, red onions, and a blend of cheeses. Finish it with more barbecue sauce for a tangy and smoky twist.
- Mediterranean Twist: Replace the marinara sauce with a pesto spread. Add ingredients like sliced black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, and fresh basil leaves. You can even sprinkle some pine nuts for extra crunch.
- Hawaiian Style: Give your French Bread Pizza a tropical touch using ham or Canadian bacon, pineapple chunks, and mozzarella cheese. The combination of sweet and savory flavors is sure to be a hit.
Bread Pizza Substitutions
- Bread: If you don’t have French bread or baguette, you can use other bread options like Italian bread, ciabatta, or even pre-made pizza crusts.
- Sauce: Instead of pizza sauce, use marinara sauce, or you can experiment with alternatives like Alfredo sauce, garlic butter, or even a combination of pesto and cream cheese.
- Cheese: While mozzarella is commonly used, you can substitute it with other melting cheeses like cheddar, Monterey Jack, or provolone.
Storage Tips
SERVE: We do not recommend keeping the pizza out at room temperature for longer than 1 hour before wrapping leftovers in plastic wrap or foil and store in the refrigerator.
STORE: Leftovers can be wrapped in plastic or foil in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and place the leftovers on a baking sheet. Heat for about 10 minutes or until the pizza is heated through and the cheese is nice and melty.
FREEZE: Whole, cooked pizzas should be cooled to room temperature and then wrapped in plastic wrap followed by foil. When prepared this way, they will keep for up to three months in the freezer.
- TO REHEAT: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and place the pizza on a baking sheet. Heat for about fifteen to twenty minutes or until the pizza is heated and the cheese melts.
Recipe FAQs
Serious Eats shares the history of how French bread pizza, nicknamed the poor man’s pizza, was created by Bob Petrillose. Bob created it in the 1960s when pizza delivery was not a thing yet. He owned a food truck outside of a college campus and wanted to make fresh pizza available to starving students. French bread pizza was his solution, and oh boy, have we benefited from his creation!
Place the pizza in a 475-degree oven for 6 minutes. Remove it from the oven, place the desired toppings on top, and place it back in the oven for another 10 minutes, and now you’ve turned plain French bread into delicious pizza!
Be sure to brush the bread with the butter mixture and then cook the bread without any toppings or sauce. This gives the bread a nice toasty texture and will help prevent it from getting soggy after adding the sauce and toppings.
Our recipe uses seven simple ingredients. The recipe includes French bread, salted butter, garlic powder, oregano, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Let them pick out which toppings they want and have them place them on their section of the French bread.
Ages 4-5: Have them remove the toppings from the fridge, pick out which toppings they want, and place them on their section of the French bread. Also, have them brush the French bread with the butter mixture.
Ages 6-8: Have them prepare any toppings, grate the cheese, and make their own French bread pizza. You could also have them spoon the sauce onto each pizza and spread it with the back of a spoon.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
- Invite some friends and family over for a fun pizza night. Ask everyone to bring a couple of their favorite toppings. This is an inexpensive way for everyone to enjoy some yummy food.
- When we make our 1-Hour French Bread to serve alongside a pasta dish or some other meal, we save one loaf for making this pizza. It is a great way to stretch the grocery budget and get two meals out of one.
More $10 Recipes
- Easy Chana Masala
- Easy Navajo Tacos
- Grilled Cheese Sloppy Joes
- Ground Beef and Broccoli Teriyaki
- Homemade Sloppy Joes
- Inside Out Chicken Pot Pie
- Italian Zucchini Boats
- Jenna’s Chicken Pillows
- Meatball Subs
French Bread Pizza
Equipment
- baking sheet
- small microwave-safe bowl
- pastry brush
- wire rack
- bread knife
Ingredients
- 1 ½ large loaves French bread cut in half lengthwise
- 8 Tablespoons salted butter cut into 16 pieces
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 14 oz jar pizza sauce
- ½ cup sliced pepperoni
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Move the oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheat the oven to 475 degrees Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set aside.
- Place the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat until melted. Stir in the garlic powder and oregano.
- Place the bread on the prepared baking sheet, cut side up, and brush the butter mixture over bread.
- Bake for 6 minutes, or until the bread has dried out some and the edges have begun to brown.
- Remove the bread from the oven and distribute the pepperoni evenly over the bread, reserving a few for the top of the bread.
- Divide the pizza sauce evenly among the bread and use the back of a spoon to spread the sauce into an even layer.
- Sprinkle the cheese over the bread and top with the reserved pepperoni. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
- Move the pan to a wire rack and let the pizzas cool for 5 minutes before slicing and eating!
Miki says
Making this tonight, cannot wait!!
Jess Jankowski says
Yay! Cannot wait to hear how you liked it!
Krissy Allori says
This is always a huge hit with my family! Love it!
Katie says
Is it just me, or is this yet another recipe that’s proof that homemade is always better? These are so tasty, simple, and perfect for Friday movie night!
Jess Jankowski says
Amen sister!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
I’ll definitely be trying this on pizza night – the kids will love it!
Jess Jankowski says
It’ll be a fun pizza night! Let us know how it goes!
Danielle says
Now this is the French Bread Pizza to make! My friends were telling me of it for ages, and I was quite resistant to making it. Not anymore – this recipe has it all!
Jess Jankowski says
Yay for no more resisting this goodness!
Gari says
Pizza on a French bread looks wonderful….gonna try it I’m sure my family is gonna love it.
Jess Jankowski says
It is so yummy! Excited for you to try it!
Doris Huddleston says
I love this recipe!
Jess Jankowski says
It’s a keeper for sure!
Jennifer Banz says
Quick and Easy! Now you’re talking! Thanks for sharing!
Jess Jankowski says
You are so welcome!
Susan Broughton says
My family loves french bread pizza! This recipe sounds delicious!
Jess Jankowski says
It’s a family favorite for us too!
Pamela says
Made this tonight, was delicious!
Will definitely make again on a regular basis. Thanks for a great recipe!
Jess Jankowski says
That’s awesome. Thanks for the review and your feedback, we really appreciate it.
Sula says
This recipe is the perfect way to make customized pizza for everyone in the house!
Jess Jankowski says
I love how easy it is for everyone to make it their own. Everyone’s happy!
Marina says
Great homemade alternative to pizza!
Jess Jankowski says
Agreed!
Amy says
Love simple recipes like these! Serious comfort food!
Jess Jankowski says
Simple and tasty are my go to every time!
Deanna says
Perfect for pizza night when I don’t have time to make the dough. Delicious.
Jess Jankowski says
It is so convenient when you are short on time!
Jen Talley says
We love french bread pizza! Thanks for the recipe!
Jess Jankowski says
You’re so welcome Jen!
Leslie says
It doesn’t get much better than this! This is sure to please the whole family! Even all my picky eaters!
Jess Jankowski says
It is a definite crowd pleaser!
Chef Dennis says
I am definitely going to try making this French Bread Pizza! It looks really mouthwatering!
Jess Jankowski says
Enjoy! It’s such a fun twist on traditional pizza.
Connie says
This recipe is so cool! Never thought to make pizza on French bread.
Jess Jankowski says
It’s super easy Connie!
Lathiya says
This bread pizza is a great choice when the kids crave for Pizza. Glad that you provide how to make this recipe with kids.
Jess Jankowski says
Thanks so much…glad you can enjoy it with your kids!
Jess Jankowski says
So happy you can enjoy this with the kids!
Chelsea says
Omg amazing! I used a sourdough loaf from Vons bakery. The butter herb first is definitely key. Made this for a quarantine date night with my husband. You girls are so beautiful and smart keep up the good work!
Jess Jankowski says
What a perfect date night! Thank you for your review!
Mya Murphy says
This brings amazing memories! My mom used to make similar French Bread pizzas when we got home from school. So yummers!!
Jess Jankowski says
Mya, what a great idea for an after school snack. Love it!
Traci says
this is the best French Bread Pizza I have tried. Not only a hit with the fam, but easy to boot. I usually bake an extra garlic loaf to have in fridge for next day pizzas or to serve as a side. Loving many recipes on this site! THANK YOU!!
Jess Jankowski says
Traci we love that you love this recipe. Thank you SO much for your feedback!
Christy Jayne says
Bought several loaves of bread at end of day for $.79/each, and I want you to know that we made these entirely plant based, and they were absolutely delicious! My husband wants them all the time now. Thank you for the recipe!
Jess Jankowski says
That’s amazing Christy! Thank you for letting us know!